Bananarama
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Bananarama is a British-Irish girl group formed in
The group's UK top-10 hits include "
Fahey left the group in 1988 and formed Shakespears Sister, best known for the UK number one "Stay" (1992). She was replaced by Jacquie O'Sullivan. This line-up had UK top-five hits with "I Want You Back" (1988) and a cover of The Beatles' "Help!" (1989) recorded with comedy duo French and Saunders and comedian Kathy Burke for the charity Comic Relief. They also charted with "Love, Truth and Honesty" and "Nathan Jones". In 1989, they embarked on their first world tour and had another hit with a new remixed version of "Cruel Summer". In 1990 and 1991, they had top-30 hits with "Only Your Love", "Preacher Man", and "Long Train Running" and their new studio album Pop Life, which featured these singles and a fourth, "Tripping on Your Love", which was released soon after the album. After O'Sullivan's late-1991 departure, Dallin and Woodward continued Bananarama as a duo, with further top-30 hits including "Movin' On" (1992), "More, More, More" (1993), "Move in My Direction" (2005), and "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango) (2005)". Fahey temporarily rejoined Bananarama in 2017 and they toured the UK and North America between November that year and August 2018.
Career
1980–1982: early years
Bananarama formed in September 1980 when teenagers and childhood friends Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward moved from Bristol to London and met Siobhan Fahey. Dallin and Fahey were studying journalism at the London College of Fashion (University of Arts) and Woodward was working at the BBC in Portland Place. Dallin and Woodward were living at the YWCA and were about to be made homeless until Paul Cook, with whom they had become friends after meeting at a club, offered them a place to live above the former Sex Pistols rehearsal room in Denmark Street, Charing Cross. They took their name, in part, from the Roxy Music song "Pyjamarama".[7]
The trio were ardent followers of the
1982–1985: Deep Sea Skiving and Bananarama
Bananarama experienced their greatest success during the period 1982 to 1989, with their first three albums primarily produced and co-written with Jolley & Swain. Their debut album, Deep Sea Skiving (UK #7, US #63) (1983) contained several hit singles – "Really Saying Something" (UK #5) and "Shy Boy" (UK #4) – and included a cover version of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (UK #5). "Cheers Then" (#45) was released as the third single, with little chart success, but very positive reviews from critics. The band recorded a version of the Sex Pistols' song "No Feelings" in late 1982 for the soundtrack of the British teen-comedy film, Party Party.
During 1982 and 1983, Bananarama did several promotional US press tours and TV appearances the first being on
Their second album,
In 1984, Bananarama featured on the Band Aid single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and were the only artists to appear on both the original 1984 Band Aid and the 1989 Band Aid II versions (Fahey appeared on the 1984 version while O'Sullivan appeared on the 1989 version).
1985 was a quiet transitional year for Bananarama. The single "Do Not Disturb" (UK #31), which would appear on their next album, maintained their public profile.
1986–1987: True Confessions and international success
1986 saw the release of their third Jolley/Swain album, True Confessions. Later editions contained other tracks and extra production duties by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman known as Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). The move resulted in the international number one hit, "Venus", (a remake of Shocking Blue's song from 1969, which had been a number 1 hit in 1970). The dance-oriented production typified the SAW approach to pop music. Bananarama had tracked the producers down after hearing "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive.[11] The song won a Juno Award in Canada for International Single of The Year. Also in 1986, Dallin and Woodward were featured as backing vocalists on two songs on Family Album, produced by John Lydon.
The music video for "Venus" received heavy airplay on MTV in the United States. It featured the group in various costumes including a devil, a French temptress, a vampire, and Greek goddesses. The video marked a pivotal shift towards a more glamorous and sexy image, which contrasted with their tomboyish appearances in their earlier work.
Follow-up singles "More Than Physical" (UK #41) and "A Trick of the Night" (UK #32) were less successful, which unfortunately had less promotion. Woodward was pregnant with her son Thomas at the time and was unable to tour or physically promote the album or its subsequent singles.
"More Than Physical" marked the beginning of Bananarama's songwriting relationship with Stock Aitken Waterman. It was a collaborative process that Stock has described as troubled, despite producing a string of hits.[12]
"It's very difficult to be creative if someone's just going to mock you, or laugh at you," he said. "With Bananarama it was just awkward, all the time very awkward, and I didn't feel comfortable writing with them."[12]
During a press tour in New York City, the group also recorded a song "Riskin' a Romance" featured in the film The Secret of My Success (1987). The track was notable because it featured Fahey taking lead vocals, and Daryl Hall was the producer. During this trip, the group also re-recorded the vocals for their next UK release "More Than Physical" and "A Trick of the Night" with Mike Stock in Miami.[11][13]
In March 1987, Bananarama participated in the recording of the single "
1987–1988: Wow! and Fahey's departure
In the wake of the success of "Venus", Bananarama began work on the album Wow! The group's sound successfully shifted towards dance-oriented Europop under the direction of Pete Waterman, but the creative process on the project was often fraught, with Matt Aitken describing the band's contribution to song writing as minimal.[14] Fahey often clashed with Waterman[15] over the direction of the project, while studio tensions commonly centred on a struggle for dominance between Aitken and the trio.[16]
Wow! was released on 4 September 1987 by London Records. It topped the Australian ARIA album charts for one week in June 1988.
"I Heard a Rumour" (UK #14, US #4) was their strongest performing international hit from this album. The track bears notable similarities in part to Michael Fortunati's "Give Me Up", which was released in early 1986. However, producer Mike Stock denied the track was based excessively on that record, insisting "I Heard A Rumour" was simply broadly inspired by Europop trends at the time.[17] "We didn't do sampling... There's no similarity in the lyric, there's no actual similarity in terms of note-for-noteness in the tune," he said. "We were doing Europop."[17]
"Love in the First Degree" (UK #3), one of their biggest UK hits, was nominated at the 1988 Brit Awards for best single. Producer Pete Waterman claimed he had to threaten to pull SAW off the Wow! project in order to force the release of the track as a single, after it was dismissed by the band and label as too commercial.[18]
A further single, "I Can't Help It" (which boasted a semi-controversial video featuring the group in a milk bath filled with fruit and half-naked men), was also a hit (UK #20).
After the third single from Wow! was released in early 1988, Fahey – who had married Eurythmics' Dave Stewart – left the group. Her last performance as a member of the group was "Love in the First Degree" at the Brit Awards in February 1988. She would later resurface in the BRIT Award–winning pop duo Shakespears Sister with Marcella Detroit.
1988–1991: second line-up, Greatest Hits, Pop Life and world tour
After Fahey's exit,
Initial tensions began to appear within the new lineup around this time, with O'Sullivan complaining that there were no photographs of her displayed at the Soho launch of Greatest Hits Collection, and tour preparation marked by her bandmates' discomfort with her partying lifestyle.[20]
As a fundraising charity single for
Bananarama's 1991 album,
1992–2001: Duo re-launch, Please Yourself, Ultra Violet and Exotica
In 1992, Dallin and Woodward returned as a duo and had a UK top 30 hit with "
Their next offering was 1995's Ultra Violet (entitled I Found Love in Japan) on a new label. The album and its three singles — "I Found Love", "Every Shade of Blue", and "Take Me to Your Heart" — were only released in some European countries, North America, Japan, and Australia, but not in Britain.
In 1998, Dallin and Woodward asked Fahey to join them to record the track "
In 2001, Dallin and Woodward, who had been frequently working in France, had recorded the album Exotica with the French label M6. The album also included a cover of George Michael's "Careless Whisper", Latin- and R&B-influenced dance songs, and reinterpreted versions of their earlier hits.
2002–2006: Drama
By 2002, Bananarama had sold 40 million records worldwide.[
With 1980s retro in vogue, Bananarama made a comeback in the British dance charts in 2005. Solasso remixed their early hit "Really Saying Something". A video was filmed with models from Britain's Next Top Model TV show.
In 2005, Dallin and Woodward collaborated with Swedish hit makers Murlyn, writing and recording in Sweden for 6 months to produce the album 'Drama'. The first single "Move in My Direction" reached #14. The second single "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)" entered and peaked at #26 on the UK charts. In the US on the Billboard Dance Chart, "Look on the Floor" peaked at #2 and "Move in My Direction" reached #14 in July 2006.
2006–2011: remasters and Viva
Summer 2006 saw the
On 19 March 2007, Bananarama's first six studio albums were reissued by
Dallin and Woodward performed a set along with other 1980s acts at Retro Fest on 1 September 2007 at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland.
By February 2007, Bananarama were back in the studio recording new material. A cover version of "
In 2008, Bananarama appeared on the Here and Now Tour with other 1980s artists such as
In August 2008, Bananarama were back in the studio recording a track with
In June 2009, Bananarama performed at the Isle of Wight Festival.[23] In August 2009, they performed at the 80s Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames alongside other '80s acts which included Rick Astley, Belinda Carlisle, and Kim Wilde.[24] The duo also performed at The Manchester Gay Pride Festival over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Bananarama released a new single entitled "Love Comes" (UK #44) and a new album Viva (UK #87) in September 2009. The album was produced by Ian Masterson and released through Fascination Records. A second single was released from the album in April 2010, a new remix of the song "Love Don't Live Here" (UK #114) backed by Ian Masterson's 2010 reworking of the 1995 single "Every Shade of Blue" and "The Runner" (originally recorded by The Three Degrees), remixed by Buzz Junkies.[25] Other covers recorded during this period included Bryan Adams's "Run To You", Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence", and Bryan Ferry's "Tokyo Joe". These were included as B-sides to the released singles and as bonus digital tracks to the parent album.
In September 2010, Bananarama were back in the studio with producer Ian Masterson, and recorded a Christmas song titled "Baby It's Christmas" (UK #199). The track was written by Dallin and Masterson and was released on 13 December in the UK and Europe as a digital EP. The track was also included on a US digital Christmas compilation entitled Super Dance Christmas Party, Volume 3. "Baby It's Christmas" reached #19 on the UK Indie Singles chart and #199 on the main UK Singles Chart.[citation needed]
In April 2011, Bananarama appeared on ITV's hit comedy Benidorm and performed "Love in the First Degree", "Robert De Niro's Waiting...", and "Movin' On".[26]
In October 2011, Bananarama performed at Retrolicious 2011 in Singapore, together with The Human League and Belinda Carlisle.
Dallin and Woodward continued to perform live since 2002, with highlights including headlining the festival of the Handover of Hong Kong, The Isle of Wight Festival, and the Singapore Grand Prix. In 2012, they embarked upon a 10-date USA tour for the Pinktober Hard Rock charity and released an EP 'Now or Never'.
In 2016, they played a sell-out tour of Australia and as well as dates in Japan.
2012–2016: 30 Years of Bananarama and Now or Never
On 9 July 2012, Warner Music imprint
On 28 October 2013, Bananarama's first six albums
In March 2015, Edsel Records released Megarama, a 3 CD collection of remixes that was followed in August with a 33 CD singles collection box set entitled In A Bunch, which contains all single releases from "Aie a Mwana" right through to "More, More, More". In 2016, Bananarama toured Australia in February and showcased their new song "Got to Get Away". On 9 March 2016, Sara confirmed on her Twitter page that Bananarama had signed a new deal with BMG. In November 2016, an excerpt of a song with the working title "Looking For Someone" was posted on the official Twitter page of the band.
In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked them the 94th most successful dance artist of all time.[29]
2017–present: original line-up tour, In Stereo, Really Saying Something and Masquerade
On 23 April 2017 Fahey rejoined Bananarama.
On 22 December 2018, Dallin and Woodward again appeared as contestants on the Christmas Special of the game show Pointless Celebrities,[31] which featured musical acts with Christmas number one hits. Dallin and Woodward (who had Christmas number ones with the original Band Aid and Band Aid II) won the episode, winning the £2,500 jackpot for their charities of choice.
On 19 April 2019, Dallin and Woodward released their new album In Stereo (UK #29). The first track from the album that served as a taster was "Dance Music", followed by the first official single "Stuff Like That", which was released on 7 March. An accompanying video to the single was directed by Andy Morahan, who had also directed the videos for many former singles from "I Heard a Rumour" to "Preacher Man". On 30 March the album track "Looking for Someone" premiered on The Graham Norton Show on BBC Radio 2 and was released as the second single from In Stereo. The album was supported by a five-date promo tour in the UK, which later that year was released as a live album entitled Live in Stereo.
On 29 October 2020, Dallin and Woodward released their autobiography, entitled Really Saying Something.
On 29 April 2022, Dallin and Woodward released the taster track "Favourite" from their twelfth studio album Masquerade, which was released on 22 July 2022.[32] On 15 June 2022, the album title track "Masquerade" was released as the first official single, and its music video followed two days later. A second taster track entitled "Velvet Lies" followed on 18 July 2022. On 12 August 2022, "Forever Young" was released as the official second single. On 14 October 2022, "Running with the Night" was released as the official third single. As part of their 40th anniversary celebrations of releasing music, Bananarama released "Cruel Summer 3AM" on 13 July 2023, to be followed by "Venus Boys Noize Remix" on 18 August.
On 18 October of the same year, Bananarama premiered their new song "Feel the Love" on BBC Radio. On the same day, it was announced that the retrospective album "Glorious: The Ultimate Collection", including singles, new versions of classic hits such as "Movin' On", "Last Thing On My Mind" or "Cruel Summer", deep cuts and new tracks "Feel the Love" and "Supernova" will be released on various vinyl and CD formats on 8 March 2024. To promote the album, a visualizer of "Feel the Love" was released, and on 3 April 2024, Bananarama will perform at the London Palladium.
Awards and nominations
Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Billboard Music Awards | 1986 | Top Hot 100 Artist | Themselves | Nominated | [33] |
Top Dance Club Play Artist | Nominated | ||||
Top Dance Sales Artist | Nominated | ||||
Top Hot 100 Song | "Venus" | Nominated | |||
Top Dance Club Play Single | Nominated | ||||
Top Dance Sales Single | Nominated | ||||
1987 | Top Hot 100 Artist | Themselves | Nominated | [34] | |
Top Dance Club Play Artist | Nominated | ||||
Top Hot 100 Song | "I Heard a Rumour" | Nominated | |||
Top Dance Club Play Single | Nominated | ||||
Brit Awards | 1988
|
British Single of the Year | "Love in the First Degree" | Nominated | [35] |
1989
|
British Video of the Year | "Nathan Jones" | Nominated | [36] | |
Classic Pop Readers' Awards | 2018 | Group of the Year | Themselves | Won | [37] |
2020 | Album of the Year | In Stereo | Won | [38] | |
International Dance Music Awards | 2007 | Best HiNRG/Euro Dance Track | "Look on the Floor" | Nominated | [39] |
Best Dance Music Video | Nominated | ||||
Smash Hits Poll Winners Party | 1989 | Best Group | Themselves | Nominated | [40] |
Members
Current members
- Sara Dallin (1980–present)
- Keren Woodward (1980–present)
Former members
- Siobhan Fahey (1980–1988, 2017–2018)
- Jacquie O'Sullivan (1988–1991)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Deep Sea Skiving (1983)
- Bananarama (1984)
- True Confessions (1986)
- Wow! (1987)
- Pop Life (1991)
- Please Yourself (1993)
- Ultra Violet (1995)
- Exotica (2001)
- Drama (2005)
- Viva (2009)
- In Stereo (2019)
- Masquerade (2022)
Concert tours
Headlining
- Cruel Summer Tour (1985)
- Lovekids Tour (1988)
- Bananarama World Tour (1989)
- Dance Mix Tour (1995–1996)
- Bananarama Culture Tour (1997–1999)
- Drama World Tour (2005–2006)
- Viva Tour (2009–2010)
- Live in Concert (2012–2016)
- The Original Line Up Tour (2017–2018)
- In Stereo Tour (2019)
- Masquerade Tour (2022–present)
Co-headlining
- Here and Now Tour (with various artists) (2007–2008)
List of all record labels
- London Records(UK, US and Canada, 1981–1993)
- ZYX Records(Germany, 1994–1996)
- avex trax(Japan, 1995 / Taiwan, 2006)
- Quality Records (Canada, 1995)
- Mega Records (Denmark, 1995)
- DigIt International (Italy, 1995)
- Festival Records (Australia, 1995)
- Popular Records (Canada 1996)
- Curb Records (USA, 1996)
- M6 Interactions (France, 2000)
- A&G Productions (UK, 2004–2006)
- The Lab (USA, 2006)
- True North Records (Canada, 2006)
- Edel Company (Germany, 2006)
- EQ Music (Singapore and Malaysia, 2005)
- Phantom Imports (Hong Kong, 2006)
- Central Station (Australia, 2005)
- Pony Canyon (Japan, 2006)
- Universal Records (Philippines, 2005)
- Blanco y Negro Records (Spain, 1995–2006)
- Megaliner Records (Russia, 2005)
- Nice Records (France, 2007)
- Fascination Records (UK, 2009–2010)
- BMG (UK, 2016–2019)
- Absolute Label Services (UK, 2019–present)
See also
References
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- ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Bananarama". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ Carr, Sue (21 June 2010). "Bananarama to headline Hyde's Splendid Festival". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ "Bananarama on Four Decades Together & Whether They'd Ever Call It Quits". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ Kaye, Roger (31 October 1984). "Culture Club, Duran Duran, Police lead second invasion". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "australian-charts.com > Bananarama - WOW! (album)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Bananarama: Biography". Bananarama.co.uk. 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ "The Shanne Bradley Interview 26/8/2001" punk77.co.uk Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "The Original Line Up Tour" bananarama.co.uk Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Stiff Little Fingers Jim Reilly on forgiving soldier who killed brother: When you're 18 years old, you're still a child yourself". Belfast Telegraph. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ a b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 11: Venus on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ a b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 13: I Can Prove It to More Than Physical on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 19: Looking Good Diving to I Just Can't Wait on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 41: Looking Back with Matt Aitken on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: BONUS: Yoyo on the '80s: Kylie Minogue, Mel & Kim, Dead Or Alive, Rick Astley, Bananarama and more on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ a b "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 24: Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now to F.L.M. on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 28: A Walk In The Park to Whatever Makes Our Love Grow on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 37: Love, Truth And Honesty to All Of Me on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ "Bananarama – The Greatest Hits & More More More". Bananarama Official Website. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Official Website". Bananarama.
- ^ "Isle of Wight Festival". Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
- ^ "Rewind Festival". Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ^ "Official Website". Bananarama. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ "Bananarama hit Benidorm". MSN. 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ^ "Official Website". Biography. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
- ^ Warburton, Paul (11 August 2012). "Warbo's Word: Olympics day 14". Harrow Observer. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "BANANARAMA ARE BACK - Siobhan Fahey Rejoins Sara Dallin & Keren Woodward For One Tour". 6 Towns Radio. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ Milward, Charlie (22 December 2018). "Pointless Celebrities: 'End the show' Richard Osman makes HUGE admission moments into show". Express. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ^ "Bananarama announce 12th studio album, 'Masquearade', release new single 'Favourite'". Retro Pop Magazine. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Billboard - Google йМХЦХ". 27 December 1986. p. 51.
- ^ "Billboard - Google йМХЦХ". 26 December 1987. p. 44.
- ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Classic Pop Reader Awards are almost... - Classic Pop Magazine | Facebook". Latest.facebook.com. 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "31st Annual International Dance Music Awards - Winter Music Conference 2016 - WMC 2016". Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
- ^ "Articles on Smash Hits". Michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Bananarama at AllMusic
- Bananarama discography at Discogs
- Bananarama discography at MusicBrainz